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KILDONAN


Kildonan


rran’s most southerly village is Kildonan and it is unusual because it lies a short distance off the main road overlooking the small island of Pladda. In the distance you can see the fl oating volcano of Ailsa Craig, a bird sanctuary with an unmistakable outline. The name Kildonan is derived from Saint Donan who is re- putedly buried in the village. Early life in the village revolved around Kildonan Castle. Once a royal seat, the castle passed


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Kildonan A


Three islands in the sun Photo: Robin Cairns (photo competition)


between various Scottish no- bles before latterly belonging to the Hamilton family in 1544 by which time they had be- come Earls of Arran. The tower was later burnt and sacked by the Earl of Sussex around 1558 but the ruined remains of the building still exist.


The modern village is a small, thriving community with a much-loved and much-used village hall. As well as a pop- ular campsite on the shore there is also the Kildonan Ho-


tel that now houses the village shop.


The village has expanded in recent years with the con- struction of larger


houses


along the shoreline making the most of the superb views of the island of Pladda, which lies about one mile offshore. Its name comes from the Norse for fl at isle. The light- house on the island was built by the Stevenson family in the 1920s and was manned until it was automated in the 1980s.


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